Symbolic tear string envelope or wrapper



June 30, 1964 w HUESCHEN 3,139,231

SYMBOLIC TEIAR STRING ENVELOPE OR WRAPPER Filed April 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGURE I F I G U R E 2 INVENTOR. 60/?00/1/ n1 HUfQTf/E/V June 30, 19 64 G. w. HUESCHEN 3,139,231

SYMBOLIC TEAR STRING ENVELOPE 0R WRAPPER Filed April 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 225 F I G U R E 4 220A 320 FIGURE 5 INVENTOR.

60/?00/1 W #01515 CHf/V ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,139,231 SYWQLIC TEAR STRENG ENVELQPE 6R WRAPRER Gordon W. Hueschen, 2507 University Ave, Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 18$,h95 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-86) The present invention relates to tear string envelopes or other wrappers and is more particularly concerned with a tear string envelope or wrapper provided with a symbolic appendage. Such appendage may illustrative ly relate to the occasion or contents or to an attribute of the sender or recipient or maker or vendor of the contents or of the envelope or wrapper itself, and will in any event be associated with a free or external end of a tear string which is provided to facilitate opening of the envelope or wrapper.

The prior art is replete with various types of greeting cards including a variety of indicia, imprintations and illustrations thereon. However, the design of envelopes or other Wrappers, for example, gift wrappers, has not kept abreast of the preferences and desires of the individual. Although certain factors, e.g., the tremendous size of present day government and some organizations, and growing conformity in our society, inter alia, have perhaps diminished the areas in which individualism is possible, in some areas individuality and personal taste cannot be denied, as in the selection of a tie, a shade of lipstick, a gift, or a greeting card. When one person sends a message or greeting or gift to another, his conscious or unconscious interest is usually in sending something personal which accurately connotes his own or the intended recipients personal and individualistic taste. It would be highly desirable to be able to reflect this aspect not only in the card or gift itself, but also in the complementary envelope or wrapper.

It has long been known that many people enjoy associating themselves with symbols of one sort or another, e.g., a private or semi-private seal, an escutcheon or a shield, a stamp, or a specific indicia of some type. Such symbols may lend attractiveness and individuality if located on an envelope or wrapper.

Moreover, symbols are frequently associated with occasions, holidays, events, and innumerable other things of interest, and many of such symbols may be conveniently connected with a message or greeting or gift, i.e., a Santa Claus may be associated with a Christmas gift, greeting card, or envelope, and so on.

It would therefore be desirable to provide an envelope or other wrapper having an externally disposed indicia of the occasion or place of origin, or of an item or message in the envelope or wrapper, or for indicating an attribute of the recipient or sender, or for authenticating the contents of the envelope or wrapper, or the like. The source of a contained greeting card or gift, or the envelope or wrapper itself, may also be made known through an appropriate indicia outside of the envelope which is indicative of the maker or vendor. In this way, some characteristic of what is in the interior of the envelope or wrapper, or of the senderor of the recipient, to mention a few examples, may be suggested by the external symbol before the envelope or wrapper is opened, and a wide selection of interesting, attractive, and individualistic symbols may be made available for this purpose to the discriminating purchaser of gifts, cards, envelopes or wrappers, or the like. Likewise, a diminutive glove, hat, or like symbol outside an envelope or package may symbolize a gift certificate for the same, or even the fullsize item, contained therein.

It would moreover be highly desirable to have such 3,l39,23l Patented June 30, 1964 external symbol present not only for its symbolism or power of suggestion, artistically arranged and designed so as to lend an attractive and inviting appearance, but also in some useful capacity, such as in some way to make the mapper or envelope more serviceable or acceptable, as by being associated with its convenient opening. Certain types of tear strings have long been known and employed for more convenient opening of envelopes and packages but, because of lack of attractiveness of a tear string alone and previous concepts thereof, which have ignored the possibility of associating the tear string with something of independent and yet cooperating significance, envelopes or Wrappers embodying the same for purposes of eonvenient opening have not received wide acceptance.

The present invention, therefore, is concerned with a wrapper or envelope provided with a tear string which is associated with symbolic means, for example, an appendage characteristic of the contents, e.g., message or item, within the wrapper of envelope, or of the occasion or place of origin, or of an attribute of the recipient or sender, or for authenticating the contents of the wrapper or envelope, or for indicating the source of the contents or of the wrapper or envelope itself.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tear string Wrapper or envelope having a symbolic appendage.

Another object is to provide a tear string envelope or Wrapper having a symbolic appendage, e.g., symbolic of a message, greeting, or item contained or to be contained therein, secured to the free end of the envelope tear string.

A further object is to provide a tear string wrapper or envelope having an escutcheon, shield, or seal mounted or imprinted on the wrapper or envelope and having a passage therethrough for receiving and passing back into the wrapper or envelope the free end ofthe tear string.

A still further object is to provide a tear string wrapper or envelope having a symbolic appendage, e.g., a seal or stamp, on the wrapper or envelope for detachably securing the external portion of the tear string.

Still another object is to provide a tear string wrapper or envelope having a symbolic appendage for detachably securing one of the external ends of the tear string thereto and having stop means on the other external end thereof.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent to one skilled in the art and still other advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the present invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, being indicative, however, of but several of the ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

Briefly, the invention comprises a tear string wrapper or envelope for enclosing an item, message, or greeting, such as a greeting card for delivery to a recipient. A tear string is disposed within the envelope or Wrapper, preferably secured adjacent a fold or score line of the wrapper or envelope, hereinafter collectively referred to as an envelope. A portion of the tear string extends externally of the envelope, and the externally extending portion, preferably at or near the free end thereof, is provided with an appendage. This appendage is of a symbolic nature, and generally characterizes the contents therein, a specific occasion, an attribute of the recipient or sender, or the like. The symbolic appendage may be and preferably is either attached to the envelope for securing-in-place the free end of the tear string, as by adhesive or the like, or an imprint of an escutcheon,

shield, or seal disposed on the envelope over a thin slit or other opening, e.g., pinhole or puncture, for receiving the string and passing it back into the envelope. The externally extending portion of the tear string may merely be secured by the appendage, or pass through an opening in the envelope and be secured by an appendage placed over said opening, or pass through an opening in the appendage alone and be secured by said appendage, or pass through an opening in both said appendage and the envelope wall in which latter case the openings are usu ally in alignment. When the appendage is imprinted, the opening is in the envelope wall Within the area of the imprinted appendage. However, the tear string may pass back into the envelope through an opening in a Wall thereof and have an appendage thereto attached or imprinted in registry with said string but either in or out of registry with said opening, much like a flag flying from the external portion of said tear string. When a seal is used, it may be of wax, plastic, or any other suitable material. Moreover, the appendage may be a decorative stamp of paper, plastic, cloth or the like, resembling a seal, which is secured to the external surface of the envelope. Upon receiving the envelope containing the item message, or greeting, the recipient may simply pull the appendage together with the dangling free end of the tear string, or, alternatively, detach the free end of the string from the body portion of the envelope, and proceed to make the tear (open the envelope) by means of the string, preferably along an adjacent fold or score line of the envelope, in a simple and facile manner for removing the contents therefrom, with or without tearing of the appendage upon or during detachment of the tear string. When the appendage is associated with both the end of the tear string and the envelope body, it serves the additional purpose of securing the tear string to the envelope body, while in any event it serves to provide a better grasp of the tear string.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which all the parts are numbered, the same numbers are used to refer to corresponding parts throughout, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a folded tear string envelope of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of an unfolded tear string envelope of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a tear string envelope showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of a tear string envelope showing still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partially cut away rear view of a tear string envelope showing yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an envelope, generally indicated at 10. A tear string 26 is disposed in one fold of the envelope 10, and a symbolic appendage 23 is fastened to the free end of the tear string.

Considering first the envelope 10, it comprises a parallelogrammatic body portion 12, of suitable material such as paper, and provided with a plurality of sides, one side thereof being for printing or writing the name and address of the recipient or addressee. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the envelope 10, in the unfolded stage, is provided with a plurality of flaps which are folded over and secured to each other for enclosing an item, e.g., a gift, message, letter, greeting, or the like. Any other form of wrapper besides an envelope may be employed.

In forming the closed envelope, side flaps 13 are folded over at fold lines 14, and bottom flap 15 is folded over at fold line 16. The bottom flap 15 is generally provided with gummed edges 15a for securing the bottom flap to the side flaps or else an adhesive is suitably disposed at the inner faces between the bottom flap and the side flaps for securing them together. The top flap 17 is folded over at fold line 18 and secured to the bottom flap and the side flaps with an adhesive 17a after the item has been inserted into the envelope 10.

Prior to folding the flaps of envelope 10, a tear string 20 is disposed and secured adjacent to one of the folds by means Well known in the art. For example, the string may be secured at points 21 to the portion of the envelope at or adjacent to the fold line 14. Perforations or cut scores 22 may also be provided in the envelope adjacent the string for facilitating tearing of the fold 14, or the fold may be sharply creased to facilitate tearing thereof. It is to be understood that the tear string 20 may be disposed in any one of the folds of the envelope 1t) and in some cases, as with certain types of paper or tear strings, need not be disposed at or adjacent either a score or fold line. As referred to herein the term tear string" denotes any type of elongated member capable of being secured to an envelope (including wrapper) for tearing the envelope when pulled, for example, a string, cord, twine, ribbon, a plastic or paper or paperboard strip, wire, or the like, whether of organic or inorganic origin.

The appendage 23 is fastened at or near the free end 2lla of the tear string 20 which extends externally of the envelope it The appendage 23 may as shown resemble a heart, which could be symbolic of a message to a person admired by the sender or of the senders affection, or which could relate to a specific yearly occasion such as Valentines Day and suggest either the event or the presence of an appropriate message in the envelope. The appendage can illustratively take the form of a not shown rabbit, chick, or egg for Easter. A small Christmas tree, Santa Claus, or a sleigh with reindeer can be employed when an envelope is to be used for delivery of gifts or greetings at Christmas time. A flag may be symbolic of a Memorial Day gift or greeting and a firecracker of a 4th of July gift or greeting, etc. The appendage 23 may also be detachably secured to a body portion, e.g., front body portion 12 or one of flaps 13 and 15, of the envelope 10 to prevent dangling of the appendage from the envelope.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, an appendage 123 is secured to one side of the body portion 112 of an envelope 110. A thin slit 124 or other opening or passageway is provided in the appendage 123 and in the body portion 112 of the envelope for passing the free end a of a tear string 120 back into the envelope. The configuration of an escutcheon, shield, or seal may also be imprinted as by suitable printing, engraving, or embossing means on the body portion of the envelope and the imprinted portion provided with a slit or other suitable opening for receiving the tear string, either subsequent to or in advance of imprinting.

In certain cases, the free end 220a of a tear string 220 (see FIGURE 4) may be detachably fastened to one side of the body portion 212 of an envelope 210 with a shield 223. The other end 22% of tear string 220 may as shown also extend externally of envelope 210. Suitable stop means 225,, e.g., a bead, is secured at or near end 2201). In this case, an adhesive such as glue is not essential for securing the tear string in the envelope, since bead 225 accomplishes this effect.

-Moreover, depending on its size and shape (such as a not shown hook) and cooperation with a score line 222 which is optionally present, especially of the perforation or cut score variety, the stop may itself in certain instances be used to open the envelope by pulling on the other end of the string (220a). An appendage having the configuration of a seal, an initial, a stamp, a crown, a coat of arms, a flower, or the like, may replace the shield. When a seal is employed for detachably securing free end 220a of the tear string, it may illustratively be of Wax or plastic on which may be imprinted the seal of the sender. The tear string 220 may comprise a colored, e.g., red or blue, ribbon of cloth, plastic, or other appropriate material.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, tear string 320 is disposed inside envelope 31d and lies adjacent diagonal score line 319, 6g, an impression, perforated, 'or cut score line, which traverses the front or rear body portion 312 of the envelope 310. The externally extending portion 320a of' tear string 32% is secured by symbolic appendage 323 to rear body portion of envelope 310. Again, the appendage may have any of numerous symbolic configurations and designs. By disposing tear string 320 in juxtaposition to score line 319, the envelope 310 may be opened in a simple and facile manner upon pulling of the tear string diagonally along the score line. A double score line may also be employed, with the tear string disposed in between the score lines.

In accord with the invention, the tear string is preferably disposed adjacent to one of the folds or score lines of an envelope and appropriately secured thereto. The free end of the tear string extends externally of the envelope and is either fastened to an appendage or inserted into an opening such as a slit provided in a body portion of the envelope and fed therethrough back into the envelope, or the end of the tear string is detachably secured to the body portion of the envelope with a seal, shield, stamp, et cetera. By means of the combination of the envelope, tear string and symbolic appendage, in the form of a seal, shield, stamp, or imprintation associated with the envelope and relating to the item, message, or contents, or being indicative of an attribute of the recipient or sender, or the like, a useful new item of manufacture is made available which is not only useful but certain to fulfill the discriminating tastes of the purchasing public.

In this new item of manufacture, the function of the symbolic appendage is obviously not symbolization alone, but also to provide a more ready grasp of the tear string and preferably also to secure, in a mannerreadily detachable, the external portion of the tear string to a portion of the envelope body or surface.

When the recipient receives the envelope, he simply extracts the string end from the opening in the imprint in the envelope body, or detaches it from the appendage, e.g., seal, shield, or stamp, detachably securing it to the envelope body, that is, in those cases where the free end of the string is secured or partially secured thereto, with or without tearing of the appendage upon or during attachment. With secure gripping of the appendage or the string, the recipient pulls the string against the material of the envelope construction, preferably against a fold or score line of the envelope, thereby effecting opening of the envelope, as by tearing along a fold line, and facilitating removal of the item, message, greeting card or the like from the envelope.

It is to be understood that the term envelope as employed in the following claims is inclusive of a cover, wrapper, or the like for enclosing and/or protecting any item, as for delivery to a recipient, so long as it is of suitable material to be employed in the intended manner with a complementary tear string, and that body portion" when used in said claims is not restricted to any particular area or surface of the envelope, cover, wrapper, or the like. It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

t is therefore desired and intended that the several embodiments herein specifically set forth be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and drawings to indicate the scope of the invention, which is to be understood as being limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l. The combination of an envelope, a tear string associated with said envelope for facilitating opening of said envelope and having an end portion thereof external of said envelope, and a symbolic appendage having an opening therein affixed to said envelope, the end of the external portion of said tear string being disposed in said opening.

2. In combination, an envelope for enclosing an item comprising a body portion having a plurality of overlying flaps, a tear string disposed internally of said envelope adjacent a fold of one of said flaps for facilitating tearing of said fold, said tear string being provided with an end portion extending from said envelope, and a symbolic design imprinted on said envelope, an opening being provided in said envelope at said design, and the end of the external portion of said tear string being disposed in said opening.

3. The combination of an envelope, a tear string associated with said envelope for facilitating opening of said envelope and having an end portion thereof external of said envelope, a symbolic appendage having an opening therein afiixed to said envelope, and said envelope hav ing an opening therein in registry with the opening in said appendage, the end of the external portion of said tear string being disposed in said openings.

4. In combination, an envelope for enclosing an item comprising a body portion, a tear string having its central portion passing through said body portion and lying adjacent to a perforated score line internally of said envelope, and at least one free end of said tear string external of said body portion, stop means secured to said free end of said tear string arranged to prevent said free end from being drawn into said body portion, and symbolic means associated with the other end of said tear string external of said envelope, whereby upon pulling one end of said tear string the opening of said envelope is facilitated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,251 Donaldson Dec. 1, 1914 1,227,215 Tanaka May 22, 1917 2,954,916 Mela Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,047 Great Britain of 1910 122,752 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1919 804,998 Germany May 4, 1951 1,020,069 France Nov. 12, 1952 

4. IN COMBINATION, AN ENVELOPE FOR ENCLOSING AN ITEM COMPRISING A BODY PORTION, A TEAR STRING HAVING ITS CENTRAL PORTION PASSING THROUGH SAID BODY PORTION AND LYING ADJACENT TO A PERFORATED SCORE LINE INTERNALLY OF SAID ENVELOPE, AND AT LEAST ONE FREE END OF SAID TEAR STRING EXTERNAL OF SAID BODY PORTION, STOP MEANS SECURED TO SAID FREE END OF SAID TEAR STRING ARRANGED TO PREVENT SAID FREE END FROM BEING DRAWN INTO SAID BODY PORTION, AND SYMBOLIC MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID TEAR STRING EXTERNAL OF SAID ENVELOPE, WHEREBY UPON PULLING ONE END OF SAID TEAR STRING THE OPENING OF SAID ENVELOPE IS FACILITATED. 